Live. Love. Crochet.

Dora Ohrenstein

Dora Ohrenstein is a leading crochet designer, author and teacher. Her books include the upcoming The Crocheter’s Skill-Building Workbook (Storey), The New Tunisian Crochet (Interweave, 2013), Custom Crocheted Sweaters (Lark, 2012), the first in-depth book on sweater construction and alteration for crocheters, Creating Crochet Fabric (Lark, 2010), and Crochet Insider's Passion for Fashion (Leisure Arts, 2009). Dora's chic and innovative designs appear regularly in Interweave Crochet, Crochet!, Vogue Knitting Crochet, and Crochet Today magazines. She is Co-Editor of Annies.com widely read Talking Crochet column, and has written for various other publications about crochet history, international traditions, and techniques. Dora is the founder and editor of Crochet Insider, an online magazine that has won the Flamie Award three times. She is also a professional singer and voice teacher.

Projects by Dora Ohrenstein

I taught myself to crochet as a 21-year old hippie living on a houseboat in Amsterdam. Having not picked up a hook in decades, I revisited crochet in 2003. The intervening years were filled with my training and subsequent career as a professional singer. By the early aughts, when my performing life was winding down and I felt the need for a creative outlet, the hook called to me again.

Downton Abbey heroines aren’t the only ones who can wear lace! Shades of Irish crochet appear in the motif and also in the picot pattern used at the sides and shoulders in this design. Layer it over a tee for casual wear, or over a black tank for a dressier look.

Vivid red poinsettia motifs are framed in white and green while a pretty little join resembling a snowflake fills in the holes between motifs in this festive holiday throw. This intricate pattern makes a fun holiday decoration for any couch or chair this Christmas season.

Flowers in 3D work so well in this super squishy yarn! This statement piece can be worn many ways — closer to the neck for a marvelous bouquet to frame your face, or wrapped around one or both shoulders.

This cozy cardigan is worked top down in Tunisian knit stitch and Tunisian double crochet. People will never believe you when you say you crocheted this cardigan! Get the look of knitted fabric without ever picking up a knitting needle, using this incredible technique.

This cowl features an unusual and eye-catching two-row stitch: a shell made on an angle dotted with puffs. It’s dimensional, lacy, and it’s one of those stitches that looks harder than it is. Plus, it feels and looks luxurious around the neck!

Lacy motifs make a romantic statement in this one-skein wrap. Motifs of different sizes create a wrap that hugs the shoulders and gives ample room for the upper arms. The floral motifs are connected by eight-pointed stars while open joins create lovely fluidity in the fabric.

This springtime potpourri cowl uses a pretty cable-like stitch and is a great project for using scrap yarns. This cowl can easily be made longer as needed, whether you want it to hang loosely around the neck or want something to wrap double for more warmth.